Sushi Ii Pairs Up with Brooklyn Kura for a Sake-Focused Omakase Night

Sushi Ii, a Michelin Guide-recognized Japanese restaurant in Newport Beach, is teaming up with Brooklyn Kura, New York's pioneering sake brewery, for a special evening on Tuesday, June 23, that puts sake front and center. Guests who book the restaurant's Bizen Omakase that night will receive a complimentary five-course sake pairing built to match the seasonal menu.

The Bizen Omakase runs $325 per person and takes diners through a full Japanese culinary journey: a starter, an appetizer plate, seasonal broth, sashimi, a grilled dish, a fried dish, five pieces of nigiri, soup and dessert. Each course gets its own Brooklyn Kura sake, chosen to bring out the best in both the food and the pour.

The night opens with Occidental, a bright, dry-hopped sake with citrus and tropical notes, served with the starter. Next up is the seasonal appetizer platter, paired with Fourteen, an aromatic sake named for the yeast strain used in fermentation. The sashimi course gets Catskills, a Junmai Daiginjo known for its silky texture and clean finish. Then comes Blue Door, a richer, more savory pour with real umami depth, served alongside the grilled course. The tasting wraps with Grand Prairie, paired with the fried dish, its crisp acidity cutting right through the richness.

It's a rare chance to see how modern, American-made sake plays off traditional Japanese cooking, all while spotlighting the seasonality and craft that define Sushi Ii's omakase. 

Reservations are limited and can be made online.

Sushi Ii is located at 100 West Coast Hwy Ste 202, Newport Beach. Call (949) 287-6268 for more information.